Means for effecting the bloodless removal of diseased tissue



L. L. DOANE July 25, 1933.

MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE BLOODLESS REMOVAL OF DISEASED TISSUE Filed March 29, 1930 .xnhsS INVENTOR.

LEON LEO [Jo/wa mmh/t M ATTORNEY Patented July 2 5,L 1933 UNITED STATES PATE-Nr LEON LEO DOANE, or BUTLER, fIENNsYLvANIA, AssIGNoE 'ro McIn'ToLsE ELECTRICAL coRPoEA'rIoN, or CIIIGAGQILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE MEANS ron EEEECTING THE BLooDLEss REMOVAL or" nIsEAsEn TI'ssuE Application fnearivrarch'ze, 1930. Serin No. 439.880..v

My invention consists of animproved method of removal of tonsillar tissue and `also vof an improved'v means or instruments for carrying Ythe methodfinto effect. Y Y

5 The prime object of the invention 1s Ato remove diseased tonsillar tissue in Aa blood` and to restrictthe action of the electric eur-- rent to the diseasedarea.V

A further object of the invention is to pro'- videV suitable electrodes to localize the current to the desired tonsil area.

Other objects of the invention will appear vfrom the following description lwhich is di# rected to the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawing and hereafter described, the novel features `being more particularly setforth in the appended claims. z n In the drawing,

. Fig. 1 is a view of the open human mouth, illustrating an application i of lmy method by mea-nsof a ring electrode,

Fig. 2 is a similar Vview showing the use of a crutch type of electrode, Fig. 3is a perspective view of a ring type electrode mounted-in a handle,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a crutch type'of electrode `removed from the handle, .and Y i Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional .viewthrough the needle point or active electrode mounted in an insulated handle. f Similar numerals refer to similar Vparts Y 375 throughout the several views.

The reference character 1, in Fig. l, indicates a tonsil, the-electrodes 2 and 53 beingV adjustedto` the tonsil, to conduct to it an electric current of'high voltage and high 40 frequency, preferably of they dArsonval' type, by means of the conductorsfll andlg 'connected with the electrodes. AIn the pracf4 tice of the improved method, the electrodeQ Y in Fig. 1 and the electrode: 6 in Fig. 2'a-ref.

known as the indifferentelectrodes andare utilized to restrict `the electric currentto a desired area. The electrode 3 shown in Fig.

Y IlV and in Fig. 2, is knownas the .active 'elec trede. VDue to the smallness of thepoint of the activeelectrode relatively to the surface of thel indifferent current flows through the active .electrode as v electrode Vapplied toV the l tonsil, and the fact that the samel amount of flows through thek indifferent electrode, thef densityof the currentflow concentrated at thevpoint of the active electrode causes the] `tonsillar tissue toV coagulate at the point of application ofthe activeelectrode, the lelectricvcurrent llow is 'limited to the area be? tween the active land. the indierentA electrode, and the density of the current 'flow at the indifferent electrode is-so small that undesirable effects Vat the ,indifferentA electrode may readily -be'avoideclI l v After the coagulation or destruction of the tonsillartissue is complete, the coagulated tissue may-be .left in situ or removed `by any suitable.instrument. ,y

- According tothe method heretofore em? ployed forethecoagulation of tissue ofthe tonsils, it has been customary to use alarge indifferent electrode, consistingeither ,of a I handleheldin, the hand of the patientpor5 a large sheet metal plate placed upon the ab'- 'domen or back of the patient, connected with@ la source of electric current of` highv voltage and high frequency, and an active electrode,

consisting of a needle: attachedjto'an in-V` sulated handle and connectedwith thesource of current, the needle being inserted -in that@ portion of the tonsilvk where fit is desired to produce coagulation' of the tissue. Tliefemp ployment this finethodcausesthe current to flow through',fthey tonsillar.tissue and throughthe bases of ;thc pillarsand; deeper vstructures of the throat,causing an engorgement of the blQOdveSSels of this region, lwhich mayresult'in edema -o'fthepillars and Y Q adjacent tissues with much f discomfortfto j the patient and :thepossibility o f'a second-7 `.ar-y hemorrhage ',la'ter."

' By -tlie impro-ved; method tion,fin'stead.of applying'an'nflffel'entvelecy trode to thehands-,theyback or abdomen of ,y the patient, necessitating. a ,strongV :current to overconfiev theresistance. of the body, .the two electrodesV are placedv nearea'ch other,

mum lresistance exists, and a mild current ,with little interveningtiss'ue; hence, a mini- "By mean's of the/.indifferent electrode, the

tonsil is engaged at its base and the pillars are retracted from the tonsil; then the active electrode is inserted into the portion desired to be Vtreated and by means ot a suitable switch connected in the electric circuit, the current'is turned on `for a period sufficient to producecoagulation, after which the cur*- ,Vrent is turned'off.

Y. Employment either Vof the ring or crutch type of electrode as the indilerentelectrode Ain close proximity to the active electrode,

causes a rapid coagulation of the diseasedv tissue.

Figs. 3,4 and 5 show difterentforms of out my improved method of removing tonsillar tissue. In Fig. 3, one form of the ring type of indifferent electrode is shown at 2, having a shank S, mounted in a metal handle k9, connected With a current carrying cord et. In Fig. 4 one form of the crutch type of in different Velectrode is shown at @having a shank ll. In Fig. 5 a needletype or active electrode 3 is shoivn providedivith ani-insulated handle 13, and connected with a cur- "rent carrying cord 5. f

It will be understood that 4'the electrodes shown and described' in V'connection.with Figs'. 3, 4 and 5 are illustrative of particular forms of the several types shovvm-and that "many other forms may be employe'dvvvithout departing from my invention. For example, with the ring type of electrode villustrated in Fifr.y `3, any desired size and shape of ring may be employed, having any desired inclination and relation Vtothe shank of the vof electrode illustratedin Fig` 4, any deployed, having any'desire'd relation :to the shankotthe electrode.- For convenience, the .Shanks offtheindifferent electrodes are of a size to be held bythe same handle 9,

handle ifpreferred. 1 Y 's Y Referringparticularly' to Figs. 3 Yand 4, the contact areabfelectrode 2 in Fig, 3 and Y of electrode 6 in'Figfl, is extremely large needle point 3f of 'the :active electrode in Fig; 5. The ring-2 shoWIr'in Fig.3 and proper size to closely't thetonsil being treated. AThe crutch typeof indifferent elec- "G5 trede 6, shown'inFig. 4,is curved to tit the ,metal electrodes Which may be used to carry `sired'fshape and proportions/may be em-r although each may be provided own infcomparison Withthef'contact area of theV feo I curvature of the tonsil and is used when it is diiiicult to place'the ring type electrode over the tonsil, the electrode 6 and shank 1l being of metal. All of the slianks ot the indifferent electrodes are preferably if@ made to interchangeably fit the metal handle 9, Which may have the electric cord -t permanently connected with it.

The active or needle point electrod e3 shoivn in Fig. 5,1is completely insulated'by 7") the insulation of the handle 13,'nearly to the point of the needle,leaving,or example,

about one-quarter ot anincli ofy tl'iepoint ot the needle exposed, and the current conducting cord may be permanently connected With the shank of the needle iii-*the handle 13. l Y i' r @In the use of these electrodes and-.cmploying` theV methodI described, thev removal lows:l 'l

of tonsillar` tissue is` accomplished astol.- V35 l .The electrodes ariel connected bymeans of -tliecurrent carrying conductingcords to a suitable supply of'v .high `freq uency current; the indifferent electrode is A.then'applied tom? the base of the tonsil, retracting intervening membranes; the activeV electrode is then inserted' into the diseased tissue of the-'tonsil in proximity to theinditferent electrode, the .metal and insulated handles being held '15 by the operatori; the electric fcurrent'is then turned on by a suitable switch, causing the 'current to How through the electrodes vand interveningtissue; the concentration ofcurrent on the needle or active: electrode, limitsfg thev destructionfof tissue to .this area and thereby prevents the currentV from affecting the healthy tissue.` Coagulation of" tonsillar tissue *by thisl method successfully searsthe areaat the point AWhereV the activeo electroderis applied,-vvith no effect at'any noint other than the-'area betweenl the 'electrodes.'v This searing. andcoagulating effeet prevents both superticial .and-deep bleeding and thereby preventspainful anddis-filo tressing reactions inihealthytiss'ue'. electrode. Similarly, Withthe crutch type While :I have shovvnmy invention the particular embodiment .abovedescribed,-. it Will be understood-'that I do notlimit'myselfspecifically-to the steps of treatmentFzl described',` in carrying Vout my improved method,`-and that Il dofnott limit myself claims.

fpWliatIclaimis: Y' f2v Y .1; Means for retracting pillars :tromton-'25 `sillar tissue-and coagulat'ingA the tonsillar -its shank 8 are of metal, the ringbeinfgof tissue', consisting Y of the vcombination 1 of` an inactive metal electrode having a rigid .pil-

larretracting portionof metal-for connection With a irst electrical conductor con-@i130 Vsulated metal rod exposed at itsend for application to tissue to be coagulated and for connection with a second electrical Yconductor connected With the other-terminal of said source of current, said electrodes being independent of each other mechanically andV cooperating in the hands of an operator to effect tissue retractionand coagulation of limited tissue areas adjacent the active electrode, whereby separa-tion and retraction of the tissues niay be effected by the inactive electrode independently ofthe active electrode and for any tissue retracting and separating position of said inactive electrode, cooperation of saidelectrodes may be had to coagulate desired tissue.A

2. Means for retracting and coagulating tonsillar tissue, consisting of the combination of an inactive nietal electrode liavinga rigid ring portion of metal for retracting tonsillar tissue and for connection With a first electrical conductor connected with one terminal of av source of high frequency current of the dArsonval type7 and an active electrode comprising an insulated metal rod exposed at its end for application to tissue to b e coagulated and for connection WithV a second electrical conductor connected With' the other terminal of said source of'current, said elec'- ti'odes being independent of each other niean operator to'effect tissue retraction and" coagulation of limited tissue areas adjacent v the active electrode, whereby separation and retraction of' the tissues may be effected by the inactive electrodeindependently of the active electrodekand for any tissue 'retract-V ing and separating` position of said inactive .Y

electrode, cooperation of said electrodes niay be had to coagulate desired tissue.

3.v Means for retracting' and, coagulating human tissue,rconsisting of the combination of an inactive metal electrode havinga rigid tissue retracting` portion of metal for con.-

nection with a first electrical conductorconnected With oneterininal of a source of high frequency.` current of the dArsoiival type,

and an active electrode comprising an insuplication to tissue to be coagulated and for connection With a second electrical conductor dependent of'each other mechanically and 'cooperating in the.. hands of an operator to effect tissue retraction and coagulation of limited tissue areas adjacent the active elec.-

'Vlated metal rod exposed. at its end for ap-"i trode, whereby separation and retraction ef'- tlie tissues may be eected by tlieinactive electrode independently of the'active electrede and for any tissue retracting and sep.-v

arating position 'of said inactive electrode, cooperation of'said electrode inay be'liad to coagulate desired tissue. lchaiiically and cooperating in the hands or LEON LEO DOANE.

" ias isa' CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

@lient No. I,9I9,543. July 25, 1.933.v

LEON LEO DOANE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ot the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 97, claim 3, for "eeetrode" read "electrodes"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the cese in the Patent Office.

Sig-neri and sealed this 26th day of September, A. D. 1933.

F. M. Hopkins (Seal) Acting Commissioner oi Patents. 

